A home invasion leaves one man dead. Can the KCPD track down the killer before anyone else is murdered?

Detective Nick Peyton lands a homicide case involving stolen property. He finds himself with the tedious task of visiting pawn shops, showing photos of jewellery and other missing items. When he meets store owner Rob Hewlett, Nick suddenly feels like this is the best job he’s ever had.

Nick and Rob share an immediate attraction and act on it without much thought. With his mind on other things, Nick exchanges only the most basic information with the hot stud who has captivated his heart and soul. He soon comes to realise how little they know about each other and that, sometimes, secrets can be deadly.

This is the second book in the Kansas City Heat series and I did enjoy it. It is a good series and I think many will think so.

I loved Nick and I love the connection that he has with Rob and the element of mystery to the book with the home invasion and looking for stolen goods. I also like the element of one of the main characters having secrets from the other because that puts more of a spin on things when one of the main characters second guesses the other because of not knowing them as well as they should.

What I would have liked to see in this book in the series is that there would have been more of a challenge in the two men getting together because if each book has the main characters falling in love almost instantly then it is going to make the books to predictable to want to read.

Other then that this is another good book to the series and I look forward to seeing how the next book will turn out.

Zac McKenzie is an ex-professional footballer with a secret he gave up his career to protect. Several years ago, he fled to his home in the North East of Scotland to avoid being outed as gay. Now, he owns a successful hotel and restaurant, but is it time to finally come out into the open?

Seth Pritchard feels he is damaged goods. He comes to Scotland to escape memories of the accident that left him injured, his bullying step-brothers and a life of lies.

For their whole lives, Zac and Seth have denied who they truly are to themselves as well as to others. When they meet, each man is forced to confront his fears and tear them down one by one.

This is such a great story but it also one of those stories where your breaks for one of the characters.

Seth just broke my heart. His life growing up with his step brothers was nothing short of tramatic they way they treated him and the cruel things they said and did to him. They left him pretty much hating himself for being gay out of fear of what others thought of him. Not only just that, but he was also left not being able to be intimate with anyone after everything his step brothers did to him. My heart broke over and over for Seth but at the same time I think he is so much stronger then he even realized. He works through his issues and becomes a stronger man that is capable of standing up for himself and he is able to truly start living and loving for the first time in his life.

Zac has always been worried about coming out but not because of his family or friends but because of the profession he was in. Seeing Seth face his Demons made it easy for Zac to be strong and decide it was time to stop hiding and time to start living in the open.

These two men made a beautiful story together, horror parts and all. They proved that love can and will conquer all. This is a great book by Alexa and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

Tosha

This is my first book by this author. I had high hopes for the story, as I love stories about sports, but it was at times difficult to relate to Sean (one of the MC’s). The other MC, Zac I was totally able to relate to. We never got much of the background story about Sean, only bits and pieces, whereas Zac we got lots of background info. The plot was excellent and I was really hoping to get more from the book then I did. The author definitely has a way with describing a scene and I loved how she described Scotland (someplace I’ve always wanted to visit). I loved the secondary characters especially Abby and Zac brother, Ellis. I will definitely read the next book in the series hoping this was just a one-time thing.

Lynn

There is a fantastic sense of place in this story set on the Scottish Coast. I enjoyed the characters and sense of community, but this didn’t entirely work as a romance for me.

I enjoyed Zac’s story – the closeted footballer returned home to set up a holiday lodge. His family, his kids, his friends and employees all contribute to the wonderful sense of family and community surrounding the man. The details of Seth’s life are less clear through the book and because there is so much mystery surrounding him, I found him harder to relate to.

I had to re-read parts of this story to fully understand why I failed to fully connect with it. Ultimately, I settled on the dialogue as my biggest problem. The conversations between these characters feels stilted. I would expect casual slang from a retired footballer and Zach’s unnaturally formal speech prevents him from becoming a fully developed character for me. Similarly, Seth might be the most formal 30 year old I’ve ever encountered. When this formality meets the bedroom the result is entirely awkward and not at all sexy. Ultimately, there is something stiff and formal about both men and it just doesn’t work, especially for Zach.

Also, there really aren’t many closeted 30 and 40 year olds left in the UK. As a professional footballer, I was almost able to understand Zac’s situation. Seth’s story might have been believable in the US or twenty years ago in the UK but it failed to ring true for a 30 year old in the UK today.

Ultimately, I really wanted to love this story more than I did. I loved the premise and the setting but the execution just didn’t work very well for me.

Callum Robertson has inherited his grandfather’s mansion in northern Scotland, but the house comes with a history he knew nothing about—should he be thrilled, or feel threatened as the house seems to lure him in?

When Callum Robertson first sees the old Scottish country mansion his grandfather bequeathed him, his first instinct is to sell the antiquated pile for whatever he can get for it—admittedly not much in a downturned market. Then he meets Craig MacPherson, a local farmer with auburn curls and sparkling gray eyes, and suddenly the gloomy old house doesn’t look quite the white elephant it first appeared to be.

Craig tells Callum that it’s rumored the house is haunted but by what or whom no one seems to know. Books flying off shelves then being mysteriously replaced give Callum pause to reconsider his rejection of the idea of an actual ghost haunting the place. When he finds a journal relating to the history of his family he is, by turn, intrigued then fascinated as the family saga unfolds through the writings of his ancestors.

An encounter with what he feels must be the spirit of his great-great-great uncle Alistair makes him change his mind about not only selling the house, but also about his future with Craig.

While Callum Robertson tours for the first time, the mansion he inherits from his Scottish grandfather, he receives a visit from local farmer Craig McPherson. Unsure how he can maintain the larger than life home and still survive, Callum toys with the idea of selling when “something” or “someone” drops a book in his lap so to speak. It’s a journal written by his great-great-great grandfather.

While reading about his family history from several generations, Callum not only learns the rumors of the house being haunted are true, but he comes to appreciate the love his family had for the home. He is saddened to find out his grandfather wasn’t the horrible man his own father made him out to be. And he’s also angry with himself for not visiting when he was old enough to make his own decisions.

His relationship with Craig also grows quickly into something they both realize neither one wants to live without.

This is a nice, quick read with a HEA.

Kris

This is a sexy, romantic, short story about family history, family secrets and new love. When Edinburgh software manager Callum inherits a rural Scottish mansion from the grandfather he never knew, he meets Craig, a local farmer. While trying to sort out the estate, Callum and Craig uncover all sorts of family secrets including a resident spirit.

While the connection between Callum and Craig is a little too instalove for me, I did enjoy the intrigue as Callum unravels his family history. For a short story, Callum and Craig are well developed characters and I liked the clash between the local boy and the public schoolboy. Callum’s family tree is fascinating and I enjoyed the way Callum is quick to embrace the unexpected.

The sex is hot in this story, but there is little romance. The connection between Callum and Craig feels convenient in the first instance, a comfortable, repeating hookup. The jump from convenient hookup to HEA is as fast as the jump from strangers to bed partners. While entirely realistic for the twenty-first century, this won’t work for romance purists. This is a quick, easy read with two well-developed leading men and an exciting plot.

DEA Agent Dale Nelson paid the ultimate price for her service when her wife was killed by drug dealers. Now she’s assigned to a task force investigating the suspects and she doesn’t need the distraction of the beautiful but infuriating reporter, Lindsey Ryan. Despite her initial resistance, Dale discovers that Lindsey is as talented and capable as she is attractive. Will she get a second shot at love, or will the peril of her job rob her of the chance at happiness again?

Investigative reporter Lindsey Ryan will do whatever it takes to get the truth. As a favor,she agrees to anchor what is supposed to be a puff piece on the DEA. However, despite the reluctance of the striking Agent Nelson to share any information, Lindsey learns power and politics are at play, and exposing the truth could not only be dangerous, but could jeopardize her chance at love.

I really enjoyed this well written and totally enthralling novel. Two strong, yet emotional character very different in outlook and personality. This novel draws you in from the opening chapter.

Along with a complex, fast moving and totally absorbing plot the tension of the growing passion between the two woman pulsates with intensity and ardor.

Right up to the final moments this book will have you hooked. Great and well executed conclusion.

Chris

Dale works for the DEA and is still mourning the murder of her wife a year ago. When she is forced to ‘babysit’ Lindsay Ryan , famous TV reporter she’s not too pleased. She needs to keep working on a case involving a drug cartel and, along with some help from her friends, feels she is getting there. This PR job is interfering with that. I really enjoyed this book. The drugs case involved some of Dale’s friends and their family members and it was a high tension, fascinating story. I loved how the revelations kept coming and connections were made. I wanted to find out more and more. I haven’t read the first book in this series and I felt I was playing catch-up a bit. Once I got it clear in my head and worked out where all of this came from I really go into it. The highlight for me, though, was the slow-burning relationship and intense attraction between Dale and Lindsay. Both had been alone for a while and were reluctant to get involved. That didn’t stop me wanting them to just get on with it! Carsen Taite really knows how to write sexual tension and never fails to please. A great read with plenty to pique the reader’s interest.
Kitty Kat

This was an excellent book in so many ways. It’s actually my first book from this author. Taite is definitely talented at the suspenseful thriller. The criminal/lawful aspects of the book were tightly plotted, with excellent pacing, and totally engaging. My problem in this book came from the romance element. Dale and Lindsey had a lot of chemistry that both fought strongly against. Then, all of sudden, both are admitting to deep feelings about the other. Strong enough that both felt comfortable talking about things they didn’t want the other to do. It seemed like there wasn’t whole lot of ‘get-to-know-you’ or ‘let’s-spend-more-time-with-each-other.’ They simply went from an attraction that they didn’t talk about or admit to, and jumped to a full on desire to be together in a deep, loving way. In other words, it doesn’t seem like an organic progression of the relationship. So while I give kudos for the suspense, I say there needs to be a bit more development for the romance to work. This is book two in this series, and I would definitely pick up the first one, and the next one as well.

AmyP

Lindsay is a likable, sweet, and caring person that you can’t help but want to succeed. Where Lindsay is open, Dale is closed off and guarded; that makes the couple a natural choice. As things normally go, just when we think they have finally gotten it right, something happens and they go their separate ways. The question is, will it be
for good?

The story of Lindsay and Dale was one that I had a hard time getting into. It took me seeing them together a few times before I really started getting sucked in to their story. I loved the crime investigation aspect of the book and I am sad that we didn’t get to see Lindsay more involved with the group on that.

My biggest gripe is all the loose ends left at the end of the book. I thought that surely ‘The End’ at the end of the book was placed there in error; however, as the book does end there, it must not be. Without spoiling too much, there is an investigation that is going on, which is pretty focused on throughout the book; however, even by the end of the book we don’t know its outcome. We also find out, almost in passing, that there may be a traitor among our group of friends, but I don’t recall finding out the person.

I feel the lack of properly finishing the book really hurt the book in the end. I had really enjoyed the book until that point and the book would have been a 4 or 4.5 stars for me; however, now as a reader I have to wait on the following book and purchase it to see what happens.

Having said that, Lindsay and Dale are great and I am happy to have met them; however, I don’t know if I will keep a look out for the second book or not.

What humans want from the Silver Planet is water. What they find is a race of humanoids who are sentient, but as emotionless and serene as the plants and placid lakes they tend. B, captain of the mission, doesn’t believe that the “Silvers” are intelligent, and lets his crew experiment on them. But then he bonds with Imms, who seems different from the others-interested in learning, intrigued by human feelings. And B realizes that capturing, studying, and killing this planet’s natives has done incalculable damage.

When a fire aboard B’s ship kills most of the crew and endangers Imms, B decides to take him back to Earth. But the simplicity of the Silver Planet doesn’t follow them. Imms learns the full spectrum of human emotions, including a love B is frightened to return, and a mistrust of the bureaucracy that wants to treat Imms like a test subject, even if they have to eliminate B to do it.

This was a very fascinating read. The world the author created was simple to understand, yet it was unique.

B is the captain of a ship that landed on Planet Silver to study the planet. They didn’t know until they landed on the planet that it was actually inhabited. They meet the “Silvers”, humanoid like beings with clear, silvery skin and you can see their heart, which can travel all over their body. I found that very interesting. And so did the crew, enough to actually start teaching them human basics…then turn around and start chopping them up and basically torturing them in the name of “science”. Oh man, I was upset about that, but it was believable because…human. When we don’t understand something, we start tearing it apart.

B meets Imms, an impulsive Silver who wants to learn about how it is to be human. The love story between them was odd. I’m not sure if I even liked B. He was too hot and cold for me and Imm’s suffering was intolerable to me. I was all for Imms though and adored his quirks. All in all, I liked this book a lot. It questions human morals. The ending kind of left me hanging. Part 2? 🙂

Ash Greene has nothing left to lose when he stands on the curb, ready to lose his dignity. The rain is relentless and has been for days—the story of his life. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, he only has one option if he wants to earn enough money to survive. Yet, when a chance encounter with a stranger spares him from making the terrible decision, he believes things may be about to change.

Cole Harris is getting by, living his life from day to day. He’s not looking for love because people like him are incapable of love. All people like him do are push others away. He has too many demons haunting his past to let anybody step foot into his despair. Yet, when he stumbles upon a guy soaking in the rain, only fate can be at work.

Letting Ash into his life, Cole soon discovers a devastating reason he should treat him as he does everyone else. The only trouble is, for the first time in his life, he has met a guy worth keeping. Desperate to hold onto him, he will face the tough decision to tell Ash the truth of who he is, or hope he can keep his past buried.

Wow. What an emotional packed story. These two men are two lost souls for different reasons but with a horrific past that connects them both even before they know it does.

Two strangers two pasts two broken hearts and two men that can heal each other and find the love they have been missing out on and hoping to one day be lucky enough to find.

Both Cole and Ash know loss and they both know guilt, grief, heartache, pain, and loneliness. They may be strangers but they connect once they meet through their painful pasts. They both may be what the other has been looking and hoping for but in order to get there they have to share with each other their painful pasta and hope they can overcome and forgive.

This is a wonderful story full of so much emotion that you cannot help to feel it along with the characters. RM Grace did an amazing job on this book and I cannot wait to read more by RM Grace in the future.

Tosha

This is a story about two men who have both been through so much, find someone worth being with but both having secrets. Ash has lost everything and is about to do something he hates just so he can be warm and get some food in his belly. Cole is fighting his demons but sees something in Ash’s eyes and offers help. Ash and Cole’s paths have crossed before, they just don’t know it yet. This was a story of forgiveness, learning to live again and mostly learning to love and be loved.

Angie

Downpour is a touching story, but I find the writing to be awkward. It is okay, but I don’t really recommend it.

My biggest complaint about the writing style is that it’s written in present tense. I’ve never seen that work when writing a story. I find it very difficult to read. There are also other times in the book that are awkward and confusing. I understand that the version I’m reading isn’t the final version, but in my opinion, the number of issues I’m seeing won’t be cleared up in just the final edit.

Even considering all that, there is potential in this story. There are touching moments and moments with good romantic suspense. I can see potential in the characters as well, but the writing needs to be better in order to really bring their stories to life.

Shawn Richards (aka S.K. Richardson) is a romance author. She’s had her heart broken badly again and is done with love. Ditching San Francisco, she moves back home to Southwest Florida to get her feet back under her and finish her latest novel.
Carrie Alexander is a huge S.K. Richardson fan, but has no idea what she looks like. She does, however, like the looks of the new neighbor down the street, Shawn Richards. Drawn to each other as friends, Shawn still tries to keep some distance in spite of what she’s beginning to feel for Carrie. Carrie isn’t the kind of woman you just have a fun night with and then move on. Carrie’s the kind you fall in love with and make love to, and live happily ever after with—but she just can’t let herself trust her heart yet. After all, the last time she fell for one of her fans, it ended badly. Carrie is looking for ‘happy ever after’ just like in all those romance novels she reads. Shawn could be the one, or maybe Carrie’s fooling herself and there’s really no such thing as all that romantic stuff in Shawn’s books. Shawn is afraid she can’t deliver on that ‘happy ever after’ she knows Carrie wants—and she wants, too, truth be told. Destiny might have given them a push when Carrie tripped at the local grocery store and literally fell into Shawn’s arms. But fear could cost Shawn the woman of her dreams.

This book is an enchanting love story. Purely a romantic novel detailing the meeting and eventual falling in love and accepting each others love, nothing more, certainly nothing less.

The back drop of the effect of the hurricane was realistically described adding colour and excitement to this affectionately told tale of two women’s burgeoning relationship.

If you are looking for a tale relating solely to love and affinity then I can recommend this book.

The story line was at times a little compartmentalized, and relied solely on the relationship between the two women, but some times this is all you need if you are seeking a little escapism.

Chris

This is a pretty good debut novel. Shawn and Carrie meet by accident and are drawn together by attraction and desire. The problem? Shawn’s last relationship was a trainwreck and she’s still trying to recover from it. It makes her wary and closed off to taking a chance on the possibilities she senses she’d have with Carrie. And that’s a lot of the plot, and possibly the problem as well. Carrie does a lot of waiting around for Shawn to get her stuff together, and gives her more than one second chance. That’s a lot of waiting for someone she isn’t sure will ever take the chance to be with her, and truthfully, as nice as Carrie seems, she also seems like a doormat because she’s so passive about letting Shawn make all the moves. And it doesn’t help that anytime Shawn does make a move, 30 seconds later she runs away, then hides for the next week. I’d say on paper, that doesn’t necessarily sound like a good story, but I actually enjoyed following along as the two try to find their way to each other. Besides occasionally wanting to smack each upside the head to make them wake up, the characters are basically likable, and they do make you root for a happy resolution. I liked hearing about all the stuff they did to weather the hurricane at the end, however it seems to me there was a lot of hype about the storm but not much happened, unless you count the way they spent their time waiting. It seemed like a buildup of tension about the storm, but the storm didn’t actually do much. Anyway, the book is sweet and romantic, and an enjoyable way to spend some time.

AmyP

This is a very sweet, beautifully romantic book and I felt that I really knew the characters and wanted them to be together forever. Shawn has been badly treated by a former lover and is very wary of getting involved again. Carrie is a hopeless romantic, who loses herself in the kind of novels written by Shawn. Shawn knows Carrie wants the whole package and not a quick romp so keeps backing off when things get interesting. Believe me this is very frustrating – and not just for Carrie! They are obviously hugely attracted to each other and Carrie is very patient with Shawn, letting her get to where she needs to be. I really liked both main characters. Carrie was a strong, capable woman who could see the big picture. I was glad she was willing to wait for Shawn. Shawn was lovely and sweet but very scared of being hurt. As she begins to see that she and Carrie are soulmates I found myself swept away with the romance of it all. It was lump in the throat kind of stuff and so beautifully written. The other characters, their friends, were well rounded too. I especially liked Kelly, Shawn’s old school friend, who was a bit smitten by Carrie too but could see that her friend was crazy about her. I really want to read more from this author now and can’t wait for her next book.